Shawn lay there, running trembling fingers over the plush toy, body stiff and motionless as time slowly ticked by in the blackness. The bed was littered in toys, the sweet scent of youth still embedded in the covers as he lay, numb to anything but the piercing grief raging in his stoic form.

He startled as the door cracked open, the sliver of yellow light from the hallway weaving shadows across his heartbroken figure.
"Chey?" he whispered breathlessly, the plea froze and withered on quivering lips as Hunter filled the doorway.

"You ok?" Hunter asked gently

Shawn stared at him, all optimism wiped from his blue eyes, the sparkle snuffed once more.

"Someone took her" he muttered flatly, "Someone came in here and took her Hunt"

"I know" whispered Hunter, his heart aching with empathy, "Rebecca called me, and she's worried about you"

"Worried about me?" Shawn burst into mirthless sniggers, madness tingeing the fraudulent laugh, "I'm right here, I'm here when it's far too late-"

"You couldn't have done anything Shawn" interjected Hunter sharply, "You have to stop blaming yourself, Cheyenne went missing –"

"She didn't go missing, some fucker took her!" roared Shawn rage seeping from every pore, his face twisted with pain and repugnance. Hunter wasn't sure if Shawn's hatred was directed at his daughter's kidnapper or himself for not preventing it.

"You've got to stop beating yourself up, Rebecca needs you, Cameron needs you. You can't keep moping –"

"Moping? Is that what you think this is?" hissed Shawn a dangerous edge to the breathless snarl, "Tell me Hunter, if someone took Aurora while you were taping Smackdown, would you forgive yourself? Would you be able to look Steph in the eye and help her through a time you know you helped put in turmoil? If I'd been here, she, she-"

The words trailed into a breathless sob, his voice catching in his throat as hot tears of sorrow birthed, he flinched as Hunter sought him, dragging him into an awkward hug patting him consolingly on the back.

"The police'll find her Shawn I promise" his hushed tone crawled reassuringly into Shawn's ear offering little solace.

The Texan ripped himself from the comforting embrace, tearing warmth and security from his unwashed torso. Cheyenne had been missing three days, three days Shawn had kept vigil here, not eating, not sleeping. He sat motionless in the blackness, still dressed in his wrestling attire from the show in Boston, awaiting his small daughter's return.

The guilt gnawed away at his insides, his selfishness caused bile to rise in his throat. He'd been wrestling while some stranger, some sick and twisted animal shattered his family to pieces. He'd been in Boston while his daughter was snatched in the blink of an eye leaving devastation in her place.

His mind tortured him day and night, anything could be happening to his little girl. Anything.

"I'm gonna find whoever took her Hunt and when I do I swear to God I'm gonna kill the bastard" he spat, his words fuelled by despise.

Hunter stared, a chill running up his spine at Shawn's derision. It wasn't the fact that he'd cursed for the first time in years, it wasn't his threat to murder; the scariest part of Shawn's vehement statement was that he'd sworn to God. And if he'd learned anything from Shawn in the past six years, it was that swearing to God resulted in serious consequences.

**********************************************************************************

Rebecca sat anxiously by the phone, hand clutching the receiver tautly muttering softly beneath her breath, Hunter caught snatches as he stood in the doorway, the prayer filtering through. He cleared his throat to announce his presence jolting the young woman from her thoughts.

"You ok?" he asked, the heartbroken look on her face gave him an obvious answer and he mentally kicked himself for asking such stupid questions to both her and Shawn.

"Did he speak to you?" Rebecca's enquiry was low and cracked; the trace of a thousand tears evident in her tone.

"He said he's coming down soon, "lied Hunter, shifting his eyes away from the family portrait above the fireplace. Chey's smiling face too hurtful to view.

"Shawn hasn't spoken to me since he got back"

The announcement was almost inaudible, her words torn with grief.

"I'm sure he's just struggling – "

"I'm struggling too" wept Rebecca, the damn of emotion breaking under the strain, "She's not just his little girl!"

Hunter's chest burned with dismay, his heart bleeding with compassion for his closest friends. He tried to swallow the anger he felt rise at Shawn's actions. His best friend was so wrapped up in his own self loathing and pain; he'd neglected to consider how his wife was coping.

"I'm so sorry" he croaked, "If there's anything I can do-"

"You've done more than enough Hunter" Rebecca dismissed his offer with a weak smile, "At least Shawn speaks to you"

Hunter felt guilt flood his veins, Shawn should have been confiding in Rebecca, not him.

"Maybe you should go talk to him" he suggested

"I need to man the phone" sniffed Rebecca," someone should be here in case the police call"

"I'll do it" Hunter volunteered.

"I think they only talk to family"

Rebecca jumped as the shriek of the phone split the air, fumbled for the receiver in a panic. Hunter watched her form deflate, saw the quick flash of hope die and crumble to despair as she sank against the sofa, eyes narrowed with torment. Almost catatonic she sat clutching the phone to her chest, tears snaking down her cheeks in a fast and furious trail of heartache leaving the voice to leak into nothingness through the cheap plastic.

Hunter crouched beside her, a comforting hand on her shoulder.

**********************************************************************************

Shawn was sheathed in shame as he curled himself beneath Cheyenne's comforter, limbs rigid Hunter's chastisement echoing in his ears. Since returning to San Antonio he'd barely glanced at his wife let alone spoken to her, too consumed by regret and misfortune to look her in the eye.

He was selfish, self-centred and egotistical – he'd spent three days holed up in his daughter's room, ignorant and oblivious to his wife's pain, disregarding his son's confusion in favour of wallowing in his own hurt.

Blinking back tears he rose, determined to console his family. He was a father and husband; it was time he started acting like one.
His heart lurched into his throat as the shrill cry of the phone shattered the air. Shawn made his way downstairs, each step of the stairway hindering his frenetic effort to find information on Cheyenne's whereabouts.

"What did they say?"

Hunter turned as Shawn's frantic drawl cut through the silence. Rebecca twisted in her seat, seeking her husband.

"Oh Shawn" the whimper broke free as he breached the gulf, pulling her into his arms.

"What did they say?" he repeated; his voice low against her ear clutching her trembling form tight against his chest.

"They found a body" sobbed Rebecca.